West Ham vs Manchester United Preview
By: Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent) Twitter: ollyzjinx01 Instagram: sir_ajirowo01
Manchester United heads to the London Stadium on Sunday for a high-stakes clash with West Ham, where a familiar face awaits in West Ham colors. Former United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, now donning the Hammers’ kit, could play spoiler against his old teammates. Will “the Spider” spin a web to trap United and compound their recent struggles, or will the Red Devils find the resilience to break through and reverse their fortunes? One thing is certain: this showdown promises drama and intensity
After a disappointing Europa League draw against Fenerbahce, the talk around Old Trafford is that management is already eyeing replacements for Erik Ten Hag, with top-tier names like Xavi in the mix. The question buzzing through the fanbase is when, not if, Ten Hag will be dismissed. Yet the approach seems questionable; if a decision has been made to move on, why not act during the international break and install an interim to stabilize the team? Changing managers mid-season could mean more instability, especially if the new arrival is left scrambling to impact an already underperforming squad.
Thursday’s Europa League performance only reinforced doubts, with a 1-1 draw against Fenerbahce following a narrow 2-1 victory over Brentford. United’s inability to string wins together and close out matches is a troubling pattern, particularly in Europe, where they have relinquished the lead in all three matches thus far. Under mounting pressure, Ten Hag has pointed to his younger players’ inexperience in managing games—an explanation that hasn’t eased concerns among fans
As United looks to avoid another setback this weekend, West Ham’s London Stadium looms. This venue has been hostile to the Reds, with back-to-back defeats of 1-0 and 2-0 over the past two seasons. Nevertheless, United has found relative success on the road this season, and with the return of captain Bruno Fernandes—rested after his European suspension—they’ll hope to reverse their fortunes. Fernandes’ presence adds a spark, and United just might be ready to put an end to their recent woes.
Fans are hoping Ten Hag avoids the tactical gamble he attempted in the Europa League, where he used Mazraoui in an unfamiliar No. 10 role, leaving creative talents like Amad and Eriksen on the bench until late in the game. Ten Hag has cited injuries as a constraint on his tactical decisions, yet the fans hope for a more conventional approach on Sunday.
United now has a prime opportunity to take advantage of a struggling West Ham side. The Hammers have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven matches and come off a 4-1 loss to Arsenal that has left them reeling. Manager Julen Lopetegui is also under pressure, with his team sliding down the table to 15th place. A win on Sunday would not only lift them in the standings but could see them leapfrog United on goal difference—a crucial boost.
Despite West Ham’s stronger goal tally this season (11 to United’s seven), their defensive vulnerabilities are evident. They have gone 13 consecutive home Premier League games without a clean sheet since January. The suspension of Kudus leaves their attacking options limited, potentially giving United a much-needed edge in this vital clash.
Manchester United’s record against West Ham:
| Games won: | 74 |
| Games drawn: | 32 |
| Games lost: | 48 |
Team News:
(As of today 26/10/2024)
West Ham: Niclas Fullkrug and Mohammed Qudus are unavailable.
Manchester United: Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro, Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Antony, Harry Maguire, and Tyrell Malacia remain unavailable.
Prediction:
With West Ham boasting clean sheets in their last two home games against United and United remaining unbeaten on the road this season, Sunday’s match is set to be a thrilling contest. Momentum may favor the Red Devils for a narrow victory—but will they manage to break West Ham’s home resilience?
West Ham 1- 2 Manchester United
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